Bench press apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bench press apparatus is provided with a barbell having weights, a counterweight, a cable whose one end is connected to the barbell with the other end connected to the counterweight, the cable movably supported by a frame, a barbell stopper for stopping a downward movement of the barbell, and a weight load reduction unit for reducing a weight load applied to an exerciser by the weights in order for the exerciser to exercise with a reduced weight load.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority benefit of Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 20-2004-0014502 filed May 25, 2004, the technical disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bench press apparatus and, moreparticularly, to a bench press apparatus having a weight change meanswhich allows the exerciser to achieve optimum weight training benefitswithout other person's help and a safety means for preventing anaccidental falling of a barbell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bench press apparatus is an athletic equipment in which the exerciserlies on his back on a bench, holds a barbell resting on a barbellsupport with a proper separation between his arms and repeatedly raisesand lowers a barbell over his chest in order to strengthen the musclesof his chest or arms. In the prior art bench press apparatus, theexerciser has been often injured by unexpected falling of the barbellonto his chin or chest due to his muscle fatigue after the repeatedraising and lowering of the barbell for a long time.

As a prior art bench press apparatus designed to prevent such accidents,U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,421 discloses a bench press apparatus having aprotection guard formed above a portion of a bench near a neck or chestof the exerciser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,662 teaches a bench pressapparatus having a barbell suspended by one end of a rope or a chainwith the other end connected to a counterweight, and a clutch meansmounted to act on a middle of the rope. The clutch means stops themovements of the rope or the chain in response to the manipulation ofthe exerciser.

However, although the prior art bench press apparatuses described abovemay be helpful in preventing the accidents, it provides the exerciserwith only a limited weight training benefits unless another person helpsthe exerciser. The reason is as follows:

The bench press apparatus is known to help the muscle growth, tomaintain the strength of the muscle and to increase the bone density ofthe exerciser. In order to maximize such weight training benefits, theexerciser has to repeat the muscle contract and the muscle stretchpredetermined times or more. Especially, the optimal muscle growth canbe obtained from an exercise of repeating the muscle contract and themuscle stretch in a situation where the weights are being changed.Normally, assistants are necessary for the exercise for the optimalmuscle growth of the exerciser, who will change the weights to be heldby the exerciser.

However, since it is difficult for the exerciser to be helped by theassistant whenever he exercises by using the bench press apparatus, theprior art apparatuses are not proper for the exercise for the optimalmuscle growth in which the weight change has to be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a benchpress apparatus with a safety device, in which the exerciser can changea weight load exerted by a barbell by himself without any help by theassistant.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with theinvention as embodied broadly described herein, a bench press apparatusis provided with a barbell having weights, a counterweight, a cablewhose one end is connected to the barbell with the other end connectedto the counterweight, the cable movably supported by a frame, a barbellstopper for stopping a downward movement of the barbell, and a weightload reduction unit for reducing a weight load applied to an exerciserby the weights in order for the exerciser to exercise with a reducedweight load.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of theinvention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the invention will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bench press apparatus in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a clutch means shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to the drawings.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the inventive bench pressapparatus designated with a reference numeral 10. The bench pressapparatus includes a base 12 and a frame 11. The base 12 supportsupright supports and horizontally extending supports to which variouscomponents for the bench press apparatus 10, e.g., a bench 13 areconnected. The frame 11 has a sheave 42 rotatably mounted on a frontalupper portion thereof, and a pair of sheaves 43 rotatably mounted onrear upper portions vertically separated from each other.

A pair of lug supports 14, 15 is provided in the bench press apparatus10, which support a barbell 16 having a bar and weights 17, 18 retainedaround ends of the bar. The barbell 16 is suspended by one end of acable 30 whose other end is connected to a counterweight 50.

In an exercise using the bench press apparatus, the exerciser firstlyraises the barbell 16 with a plurality of weights 17, 18 from the lugsupport 14, 15 and repeats the raising and lowering of the barbell 16predetermined times or until his muscle is exhausted. At the moment, thecable 30 reciprocally travels over the sheaves 42, 43.

In order to prevent the accidental falling of the elevated barbell 16onto the exerciser due to his muscle fatigue, the inventive bench pressapparatus includes a cultch means 60 which functions to stop themovement of the counterweight 50 through an engagement with thecounterweight 50 in response to a manipulation of a first pedal switchS1. The inventive bench press apparatus further includes a weightchanger 70 for the optimal muscle strengthening of the exerciser. Theweight changer 70, as mounted between the pair of sheaves 43, functionsto change the weight load caused by the barbell 16 with the weights 17,18 to a predetermined level during bench-pressing exercise. The weightchanger 70 is controlled by a second pedal switch S2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the weight changer 70 includes a piston rod assembly20 fixed to the frame 11. The piston rod assembly 20 is provided with asheave 22 a mounted at an end of a rod 22. The sheave 22 a is in rollingcontact with the portion of the cable 30 between the pair of sheaves 43at its external surface.

In the bench-pressing exercising, when the exerciser steps on the secondpedal switch S2, the rod 22 protrudes from the assembly 20 in a way thatthe exerciser previously determined. The exerciser can previouslydetermine, e.g., a distance by which the rod 20 protrudes, which may beproportional to or correspond to the distance of the barbell travel invertical direction, a pressing force exerted on the cable 30 by the rod20 for reducing the weight load by the barbell 16, e.g., 5 kgf, 10 kgf,15 kgf, etc., and a speed at which the rod 20 protrudes. The distance,the pressing force and the speed can be adjusted by means of a controlmeans 90, which may be embodied with various well-known technologies.Detailed description about the control means 90 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the counterweight 50 has teeth 51 on its one lateralsurface, which are inclined in one direction.

The clutch means 60 includes a housing 61, a pair of guide roller 62, ateeth brake 64, a rod 65, and cylinder 66. The housing 61 is fixed tothe frame 11. The counterweight 50 is vertically movable through thehousing 61. The guide roller 62 has a groove 62 a formed along a fullcircumference of the roller 62, with which the other lateral surface ofthe counterweight 50 is in rolling contact. The pair of guide roller 62is vertically arranged in the housing 61. The teeth brake 64 ishorizontally movably mounted in the housing 61. The teeth brake 64 hasteeth 63 on its leading portion, which are also inclined and engagablewith the teeth 51 of the counterweight 50. Therefore, the teeth 63permits the movement of the teeth 51 in one direction but does notpermit the teeth movement in contrary direction. The rod 65 is connectedto a rear portion of the teeth brake 64. The cylinder 66 is fixed to theframe 11 to be supported by the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder 66 is connected to the first pedalswitch S1. When the exerciser steps on the first pedal switch S1, therod 65 of the cylinder 66 advances, whereas, when the exerciser removeshis foot from the first pedal switch S1, the rod 65 is retreated. It iswell understood to those skilled in the art that various known cylindersare available for this purpose.

When the rod 65 is in the retreated position, the teeth 51 and the teeth63 are disengaged, so that the counterweight 50 can freely move in thevertical direction through the housing 61, being supported and guided bythe pair of guide roller 62. When the rod 65 advances, the teeth 63 alsoadvance and are finally engaged with the teeth 51. At the moment, thecounterweight 50 cannot move upwardly and, accordingly, the barbell 16cannot be moved downwardly. However, a downward movement of thecounterweight 50 through the housing 61 is permitted and the barbell 16can be raised up. This is because the teeth 63, 51 have an inclinedshape.

Hereunder, the operation of the inventive bench press apparatusconstructed in this manner will be described.

First, the exerciser sets the conditions on the protruding distance ofthe rod 22, the pressing force by the rod 22 and the protruding speed ofthe rod 22, under a consideration of his physical condition and hiscapacity for locomotion, via the control means 9, which can be embodiedwith well known devices.

Now, the bench press apparatus is in an initial state, where the firstpedal switch S1 is not pushed, the rod 65 is in the retreated position,the teeth 51, 63 are disengaged from each other and the counterweight 50can be freely moved in the vertical direction. Further, the barbell 16is stably supported by the lug supports 14, 15 and the counterweight 50is suspended by the tensioned cable 30.

The exerciser lies on the bench 13 and raises the barbell 16 from thelug supports 14, 15. Then the exerciser repeats the raising and thelowering of the barbell 16. In response to this, the cable 30 connectedto the barbell 16 at its one end reciprocates over the sheaves 42, 43.The counterweight 50 connected to the other end of the cable 30 alsovertically moves, being guided by the pair of guide rollers 62.

While the barbell 16 is raised and lowered by the exerciser, thecounterweight 50 can freely move in the vertical direction. For thisreason, even if the exerciser rapidly moves the barbell 16, the cable 30is not deviated from its way, i.e., from the sheaves 42, 43, so thatunwanted entanglement of the cable 30 can be prevented.

When the exerciser can no longer move the barbell 16 due to his musclefatigue after continuous repetition of the raising and the lowering ofthe barbell 16, he steps on the first pedal switch S1 in order toprevent the barbell 16 from accidentally falling onto his chest. Whenthe first pedal switch S1 is pushed, the rod 65 advances to allow theteeth 63 of the teeth brake 64 to be engaged with the teeth 51 of thecounterweight 50, resulting in stopping the upward movement of thecounterweight 50.

Meanwhile, after the continuous repetition of the raising and thelowering of the barbell 16, the exerciser reaches the point of momentarymuscular failure. It has been known that the exerciser should change orreduce the weight load at that point and then continue thebench-pressing exercise with a reduced weight load for his bestbench-pressing benefits.

For this purpose, the exerciser using the inventive bench pressapparatus also steps on the second pedal switch S2 in the situationwhere the teeth 51, 63 are already engaged together due to the advanceof the rod 65 by pushing the first pedal switch S1. In response to this,the rod 22 protrudes from the piston rod assembly 20 in a manner that hepreviously determined via the control means 90, so that the cable 30 ispressed in a certain magnitude of the force. This results in thereduction of the weight load of the barbell 16 applied to the exerciserin proportion to the pressing force.

Under this circumstance, the exerciser can continue the repetition ofthe raising and the lowering of the barbell 16 with a reduced weightload. Therefore, the exerciser can perform increased number ofrepetitions of the raising and the lowering of the barbell 16 withoutthe help of the assistant and, hence, can enjoy the best bench-pressingbenefits.

The inventive bench press apparatus constructed in this manner canprevent the accidental falling of the elevated barbell onto theexerciser. Further, weight load of a barbell applied to an exerciser canbe changed without an assistant. Accordingly, the inventive bench pressapparatus can provide the exerciser with many chances to easily increasehis muscle strength with reduced costs.

Although the present invention has been described by way of example withrespect to the preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Variouschanges and modifications may be made thereto within the scope of theinvention defined by the appended claims.

1. A bench press apparatus comprising: a barbell having weights; a counterweight; a cable whose one end is connected to the barbell with the other end connected to the counterweight, the cable movably supported by a frame; a barbell stop means for stopping a downward movement of the barbell; and a weight load reduction means for reducing a weight load applied to an exerciser by the weights in order for the exerciser to exercise with a reduced weight load.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barbell stop means comprises: counterweight teeth formed on one lateral surface of the counterweight; a housing having a pair of guide roller supporting the other lateral surface of the counterweight, the counterweight vertically movable through the housing; a pedal switch manipulated by the exerciser for triggering stopping of a downward movement of the barbell; a cylinder adapted to protrude a rod in response to a manipulation of the pedal switch by the exerciser; and a teeth brake horizontally movable through the housing, the teeth brake having brake teeth engageable with the counterweight teeth and mounted to the rod.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the counterweight teeth and the brake teeth have an inclined teeth shape which permits a downward movement of the counterweight when they are engaged with each other.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the weight load reduction means comprises: a control means through which the exerciser sets predetermined conditions of a protruding speed, a pressing force and a protruding distance; a pedal switch manipulated by the exerciser; a cylinder means adapted to protrude a rod according to the predetermined conditions when the pedal switch is manipulated; and a sheave held at an end of the rod to depress the cable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the weight load reduction means comprises: a control means through which the exerciser sets predetermined conditions of a protruding speed, a pressing force and a protruding distance; a pedal switch manipulated by the exerciser; a cylinder means adapted to protrude a rod according to the predetermined conditions when the pedal switch is manipulated; and a sheave held at an end of the rod to depress the cable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the weight load reduction means comprises: a control means through which the exerciser sets predetermined conditions of a protruding speed, a pressing force and a protruding distance; a pedal switch manipulated by the exerciser; a cylinder means adapted to protrude a rod according to the predetermined conditions when the pedal switch is manipulated; and a sheave held at an end of the rod to depress the cable. 